D. TOPIC. Ensuring MNMCC Forces are Ready for Next HA/DR Event –
Lesson from the 2016 RIMPAC Exercise (2569)
Observation.
Through its role in the Multi-National Military Coordination Center (MNMCC)
during the 2016 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, participating Civil Affairs
leadership recognized the importance of MNMCC personnel receiving the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) Joint Humanitarian
Operations Course (JHOC) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Supporting Humanitarian Action in Responding
to Emergencies and Disasters (SHARED) course.
Discussion.
The 2016 RIMPAC Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) scenario
was an earthquake in Southeast Griffon (notional friendly nation located at Oahu,
Hawaii) resulting in massive casualties and extensive infrastructure damage at a
scope far beyond Griffon's government’s capability to respond. Griffon declared
a national emergency, requesting United Nations (UN) support. A Japanese
Navy led Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF) was stood up with support from eight
countries: the US, Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chili, Colombia, Korea and the
Philippines.
In order for the CJTF to support the Government of Griffin, an MNMCC was
established to receive and process Requests For Assistance (RFA) that originate
from the Humanitarian Military Operations Center (HuMOCC). UNOCHA
facilitates the HuMOCC's operations managing the "trading floor," where the host
nation government requests humanitarian assistance, and then coordinates
responses and requests resources from the international community. Within the
HuMOCC, USAID is the US agency that leads and coordinates the US
Government's HA/DR response and support to the host nation.
Operating as a liaison between the CJTF, HuMOCC, and the affected nation, the
MNMCC is staffed by US Army Civil Affairs personnel and partner nation military
personnel who receive and action RFAs for the CJTF. However, multinational
force members’ unfamiliarity with the humanitarian community’s processes,
especially as they relate to non-complex HA/DR missions, can lead to
misu nderstandings and less efficient working relationships between the
multinational force and the humanitarian community. Additionally, a lack of
familiarization with coalition members' staff procedures can lead to a degree of
separation between national militaries intended to work as a combined
team. Thus, it is imperative that the MNMCC personnel understand the roles,
responsibilities, functions, processes, and procedures of participating U.S.
agencies, partners, non-governmental organizations, and intergovernmental
organizations to support the CJTF Commander's HA/DR effort.
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